Have you ever heard of ARFID? ARFID stands for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder and is a lesser-known eating disorder. This eating disorder was only added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (DSM-5) in 2013. The DSM-5 is a reference book created by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) for therapists and psychiatrists to use in order to help them accurately diagnose patients with the correct mental disorder. It contains clear, detailed definitions and examples of mental health and brain-related conditions. Because of its recent addition to the DSM-5, there are a lot of harmful stereotypes surrounding ARFID. 

What is ARFID?

ARFID is an eating disorder that limits an individual’s diet because of their inability to eat certain types of foods. This limitation does not come from body image issues, but rather from sensory issues, the fear of trying new foods, or even just from the lack of interest in eating. People diagnosed with ARFID tend to have a small number of safe foods, which are foods that don’t evoke anxiety or fear, and it can be difficult for them to add new things to this internal list. ARFID makes it difficult to try new foods, which can cause people to lose interest in eating or even have anxiety when attending social events. ARFID isn’t just picky eating, which is a common misconception surrounding this diagnosis. ARFID is the brain not letting a person eat certain foods, often to their own detriment. 

Symptoms and Signs of ARFID

In order to help someone struggling with ARFID, it’s good to know what symptoms to look out for. Some of these symptoms include: malnutrition, fatigue, constipation, irregular menstrual cycles, dizziness, and cold intolerance. These symptoms can imitate other eating disorders that are more well-known, such as anorexia and bulimia, but it is important to understand that ARFID is its own unique diagnosis. To help discern ARFID from other eating disorders, we can look at the behavioral traits seen in those struggling. Some of these include: having little to no appetite, fear of vomiting or choking, fear or anxiety about trying new foods, anxiety around social events, and not wanting to discuss foods. Learning the signs and symptoms of ARFID can help you identify if you, or those around you, are struggling with this eating disorder without realizing it. 

Harmful Stereotypes of ARFID

One thing people with ARFID struggle with the most is the harmful stereotypes that surround it, causing feelings of isolation and invalidation. The number one misconception around ARFID is that the person is just being a picky eater and will grow out of this habit. As someone who suffers from this diagnosis, I can say that this is completely untrue. ARFID is not just stubbornness or a refusal to try foods to prove a point. This eating disorder can cause individuals to genuinely fear food to the point of not eating or not trying anything new. Instilling the belief that it’s “just picky eating” in those struggling with ARFID can prevent individuals from seeking treatment. 

Another common stereotype is that forcing a child with ARFID to try new foods will help them get over their fear of foods. Parents may try to force their child to try foods by holding them down or refusing to give them their safe foods at dinner time, causing the child to go to bed hungry. This is also untrue, as forcing someone with ARFID to try new things can make their fear of food worse. Encouraging them to try foods in a positive, supportive environment at their own pace will be more beneficial to them. 

A third false belief about ARFID is that adults don’t suffer from this eating disorder, only kids do. Research on ARFID is limited because of its recent addition to the DSM-5, but statistics show that anywhere from 0.3% and 15.5% of the general population is suffering from this eating disorder. Only believing that children suffer from ARFID can discourage researchers from better understanding this eating disorder and even prevent adults from seeking treatment. 

Resources for those with ARFID

Even though ARFID is a newly researched and acknowledged eating disorder, there are resources for those struggling. The ARFID Collaborative has articles, handouts, and webinars for both parents of children with ARFID and adults with ARFID. There are also different treatments for ARFID, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ARFID, which is a good starting treatment when trying to determine if you or someone you know has ARFID, since it focuses on future treatments, managing symptoms, and understanding how to overcome fear and anxiety surrounding food. Other treatments include Family-Based Therapy for ARFID and Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions for ARFID, which are great to help support those with ARFID by having their family learn and work with their loved one in treating this eating disorder. One thing that has greatly helped me is working with both a dietitian and a therapist to learn what methods of overcoming my fear of trying foods are best for me. Many insurance plans cover both of these resources, so it can be helpful to reach out to your insurance company to see if these are accessible for you. For those with ARFID struggling with severe malnutrition, there are inpatient treatment options available as well.

It can also help you feel less isolated and alone to know that others are struggling with this lesser-known eating disorder, ARFID. There are many people out there who are already educating and sharing their experience with ARFID, including on Instagram and TikTok. Some of my favorite ARFID influencers on Instagram include: @myarfidlife, @arfidawarenesss, and @arfid.dietitian. On TikTok, some of the more helpful influencers I’ve found are @arfid_andrew and @mikeyvee44.

Whether you or someone you know has ARFID, the first step to recovery is educating yourself on what this eating disorder really is. It can be easy to fall for the harmful stereotypes out there, such as believing ARFID is just picky eating or that children will grow out of it, but breaking these beliefs down is extremely helpful in understanding that this is a real diagnosis with real treatment options. The more discussions there are about ARFID, the sooner those struggling with it can seek treatment.